There is limited information available about the relationship between dry period shortening and calf health and performance. Ninety eight Holstein cows and their calves were used to evaluate the effects of dry period length on colostrum quality and calf health. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design that included dry period (30-d, 42-d and 56-d), parity (primiparous or multiparous) and BCS (BCS 3.2, BCS ? 3.2), and calves were blocked by sex. Actual dry period lengths for treatments were 57.2 ± 4.3, 41.7 ± 1.8 and 35.2 ± 1.8 d. Maternal colostrum was fed at 1.2 ± 1 and 12.3 ± 1.4 h of age in amount of 2 L/meal. Thereafter, pooled transitional milk was fed for the next four meals. Any calf that did not receive maternal colostrum was removed from the study. Calves blood samples were collected at 0, 3 and 24 h postfeeding and 42 d. Dams blood were sampled immediately after parturition. Twinning, calving score and mastitis incidence at calving day were also recorded. First two milking after parturition were sampled and their density and pH were recorded. Calves were fed milk from 3 d until 42 d and thereafter milk replacer was fed until weaning at 10 % of BW/d. Water and calf starter were offered free choice after 3 d. Calves were housed in individual pens. Calves were weighed at 0, 42 and 90 d and their body temperatures were recorded at 12 h intervals from birth until 3 d. Health and fecal scores were estimated daily until 42 d. Colostrum and second milking’s protein, lactose, TS, SNF, pH, IgG, IgM and (BSA + ?-LG + ?-LA)/Ig ratio were measured. Serum total protein, A/G ratio, IgG and IgM were determined. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS system. Thirty five days dry (35 DD) cows produced less colostrum compared to 56 DD cows (2.9 ± 2.9 and 5.8 ± 3.9 L for 35 DD and 56 DD treatments, respectively; P 0.05). Colostrum protein (14.07 ± 6.85 and 19.75 ± 5.01% for 35 DD and 56 DD treatments, respectively; P 0.01 ), TS (21.34 ± 5.21 and 25.12 ± 4.79% for 35 DD and 56 DD treatments, respectively) and SNF (17.37 ± 3.91 and 22.13 ± 4.70% for 35 DD and 56 DD treatments, respectively) content were affected by dry period shortening (P 0.05). No significant differences due to dry period length were detected for colostrum (BSA + ?-LG + ?-LA)/Ig ratio, IgM, fat, lactose, density and pH. Effect of dry period length on calving score, incidence of mastitis and retained placenta were not significant. Calves birth weight, serum protein, IgG and IgM concentration at 3 h, 24 h and 42 d, fecal and health scores and ADG were not different between treatments. But differences in AEA were significant between treatments (45.3 ± 9.2, 63.07 ± 8.1 and 55.7 ± 9.9% for 35 DD, 42 DD and 56 DD, respectively; P 0.05). Data indicated that a short dry period can reduce colostrum quality but its effect